Mary EILEEN Roggeveen (nee Cain)

Died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on April 3, 2012 in Victoria, B.C.

Eileen was the eldest child of James and Ellen Cain; she was born in Port Alberni, B.C. on August 13, 1925. She was predeceased by her parents, her infant son Paul, and by two of her brothers, Bernie (Denise) and Cussy (Gloria). She is survived by and will be forever dearly loved and missed by her devoted husband Paul, her children Marina (Gary), Linda (Peter), and Greg (Eileen), her two adored grandsons, Nicolas and James, her brothers Gerry (Pat) and Vince (Yolande), her many nephews and nieces, great-nephews and nieces, many cousins in and around Wigan, U.K., her best friend Aideen Lydon (the sister she never had), and many, many other friends, all of whom loved her dearly.

While growing up in Port Alberni, Eileen was a devoted daughter and sister and lived to play her piano (she loved to play Chopin and boogie woogie music), to sing in the church choir or as a soloist, to play the church organ, and above all to dance.

Eileen left Port Alberni in the early 50’s to become the secretary to the principal of Gonzaga High School in Spokane, Washington and subsequently to work as a legal secretary in Seattle, Washington, before returning to Canada where she and Paul were married in Port Alberni on May 15, 1954.

Eileen spent the next 20 years of Paul’s naval career raising her family in Halifax, Cornwallis, Victoria, Port Arthur and Ottawa. She worked in positions that she truly enjoyed at a hospital in Port Arthur and in the Guidance Department at Canterbury High School in Ottawa and became a Certified Graphoanalyst before moving to Victoria in 1973. After moving to Victoria, she continued her career as an executive secretary by being part of the Opening Team of the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria and then working with the B.C. Ministry of the Attorney General.

Eileen’s greatest loves were her family, her music, and reading and the places it could take her. Her great and simple faith in the love of God sustained her during her entire life.

A Funeral Mass for Eileen will take place at St. Patrick’s Church, 2060 Haultain Street, Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 12:10 p.m., with Father MacDonald officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Eileen’s family would especially like to thank Dr. I. Hurwitz, Dr. V. Bernstein, Dr. C. Stigant, Dr. D. Woodburn and Dr. B. Sanders for the years of tender and devoted care that they provided to her. Eileen’s family would also like to thank all of the other VIHA doctors, nurses and staff who cared for Eileen most recently, especially Nicole, her Home Community Care nurse; Betty, David and Holly, nurses in the Emergency Room at Royal Jubilee Hospital; and Bernice and Kelly, nurses at Victoria Hospice. For your gentle care, deep compassion and skills, you will always have our deepest thanks and appreciation.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations in Eileen’s memory to the Victoria Hospice Society, the B.C. Cancer Agency or the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Condolences for the family may be offered below.

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